LATROBE, Pa. – Sophomore Molly Shelley had a huge day at the plate on Thursday at Saint Vincent, leading the Geneva College softball team to two Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) victories on a sunny afternoon.  The Golden Tornadoes took game one 8-5, and then they duplicated their offense in game two with an 8-1 victory.  Geneva improved to 13-3 on the season, 2-2 in the PAC.

In game one of the day, Geneva got on the board in the top of the first when Shelley led off with a single, stole second, and she eventually came around to score on a double steal attempt.

Junior Sophia Tvaroch got the start in circle, and a leadoff walk eventually came around to score to tie the game at 1-1.

Shelley gave the Golden Tornadoes the lead back in the top of the third when she drove a ball over the centerfield fence for a solo home run.  However, in the bottom of the third, a key two-out error opened the door for Saint Vincent to score three unearned runs and take its first lead of the game, 4-2.  Tvaroch locked in for the next couple innings, though, allowing the Golden Tornadoes to mount a comeback.

Geneva immediately responded in the top of the fourth.  Junior Justine Robbins led off with a single and went to third on a one-out single by senior Megan Gray.  Later in the inning, sophomore Malerie Branson and Shelley delivered RBI-singles to tie the score at 4-4.

The Golden Tornadoes retook the lead in the top of the fifth.  Junior Lexi Zanic led off with a double and scored on an RBI-double from graduate student Julia Hart, and then Hart came around on a single from junior Madison Rapp.

Saint Vincent tried to rally in the bottom of the sixth.  A one-out double led to the removal of Tvaroch for junior McKenzie Rapp, and the Bearcats proceeded to greet Rapp with three straight hits to pull within one, 6-5, while also loading the bases.  However, Rapp got out of the jam when a soft line drive in the infield led to a double play.

The Geneva offense went back to work in the top of the seventh.  Robbins led off with a double, and sophomore Makenna Redfern, who pinch ran for Robbins, came home on a double from Madison Rapp.  Two batters later, Rapp scored on a sacrifice fly from Branson to give Geneva two insurance runs. 

McKenzie Rapp retired the Bearcats in order in the bottom of the frame, including a game-ending strikeout, to close out the win and earn the save in the 8-5 victory.

Tvaroch earned the win, her fourth of the season, with 5.1 innings of work.  She gave up four hits, five runs (just two earned) to go with three strikeouts.

Shelley finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two stolen bases, two runs and two RBIs.  Zanic, Robbins, Rapp and Gray all contributed two hits, while Branson drove in two runners.

Shelley continued her strong day when she led off game two with a drive off the left field fence for a double.  However, the Golden Tornadoes stranded her at second base.

Tvaroch again took the ball in the circle in game two, and she kept Saint Vincent scoreless through three innings of work.

Geneva's offense got on the board in the top of the fourth on a two-out, RBI-single from Madison Rapp.  Junior Alena Campbell relieved Tvaroch to start the bottom of the fourth, and the Bearcats took advantage of a leadoff walk to tie the game up at 1-1.

Shelley continued her torrid day in the top of the fifth, though, doubling and eventually scoring on a single from Zanic to give Geneva the lead back.

McKenzie Rapp relieved Campbell in the bottom of the inning, and she breezed through Bearcats in order to send the offense right back to the plate.

Hart opened the top of the sixth with a laser to the wall in left-centerfield for a double, and Robbins followed with a blast well over the leftfield wall on the first pitch she saw to increase the Golden Tornado lead to 4-1.

Shelley stayed red-hot to lead off the seventh, lining one to the wall in right-centerfield for a triple, and after a walk, Zanic drove home Shelley with a single.  Wilcox later stole home, Madison Rapp drove home Zanic with a single, and Gray drove home Rapp with a double to close out the scoring, 8-1. 

Campell earned her second win of the season in relief, while McKenzie Rapp picked up her third save with three scoreless innings of relief, giving up just two hits while striking out two.

Shelley and Zanic each batted 3-for-4 in the game.  Shelley finished with two doubles, a triple and two runs scored.  Zanic scored twice and drove in two RBIs.  Madison Rapp added another 2-for-4 effort with a double, a run and two RBIs. 

The women will finally get a chance to play at home on Saturday when Geneva's hosts Thiel at 1:00 p.m. for its home opener.